By Mark Schmerling

 

‘Friday Night Lights’ will shine at Polk County High School’s football field this evening, when the Wolverines host Chase’s Trojans in a non-conference football contest beginning at 7:30.

 

It’s Polk’s first game of the season.

 

Though Polk was 9-4 overall in 2014, including making it to the second round of the state playoffs, and Chase was 1-10, Wolverine Head Coach Jamie Thompson cautions that the Trojans are a better team than last year’s record indicates. For one, their conference includes 2A state champion Shelby, along with accomplished teams from Crest and Burns.

 

“I look for a competitive game,” Thompson remarked. They’re an option football team, like us,” Thompson added.

Thompson also observed, “Chase is a program that’s similar to us in demographics.”  Chase, a 2A school like Polk, has about 150 more students than Polk.

 

Five Wolverine players were injured in pre-season scrimmage action, but Thompson expects them “back in some form or fashion” this evening.

 

“Our goal,” he said, “is to play our responsibilities on defense, and control the ball on offense by minimizing turnovers, and making first downs.”

 

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